Aims: to discuss feelings, to extend vocabulary from authentic news article and to read for comprehension.

Warm up:
Give students one minute to write down all the things children believe in e.g. Santa, the Easter Bunny, imaginary friends.

After one minute go through the answers and elicit more information about how students felt when they believed, how they found out the truth and how they felt about finding out.

Listening and Speaking:
Watch the John Lewis Christmas advert.

Answer the questions:
1. What does the little boy have?
2. List 3 things they do together.
3. What does his toy/pet realise is missing from life?
4. What changes at the end of the advert?
5. What message does the advert give us?
6. How did you feel watching the advert?
7. Why do you think you felt this way?

Write down your answers paying attention to the last 3 questions.Why did we feel so connected to the penguin? Does the boy have a typical life of a child today, or when we were children? – note the lack of technology, note the simple activities – sledging, homemade cards, going to the park. Does it make us remember our childhood?

Should parents encourage children to believe in magic or should they be told from the beginning that magic doesn’t exist?

Reading:
Look at the picture and write down what is happening.

Why are the dinosaurs in the freezer?What would you have thought as a child, on discovering the dinosaurs in the freezer?

To get a more visual idea, watch this one minute video on YouTube showing what parents are doing with the dinosaurs. What do you think about this idea? What would you have thought if your parents were making the dinosaurs come alive at night?

1. Name 3 things the dinosaurs have done during the night.
2. How did the family first share their idea?
3. How quickly did the idea go viral?
4. What do the family’s children think?
5. How is the idea helping the autistic child?
6. What is the main idea behind Dinovember?

- When have you been happily surprised by something? Describe the experience and say why the surprise was a happy one for you.

- Which place has fond memories for you? Give reasons why it is memorable to you.

- A gift can contribute to a child’s development. What gift would you give to help a child develop? Why? Use reasons and specific examples to support your choice.

- Some people think that the family is the most important influence on young adults. Other people think that friends are the most important influence on young adults. Which view do you agree with? Use examples to support your position.

- Some people enjoy change, and they look forward to new experiences. Others like their lives to stay the same, and they do not change their usual habits. Compare these two approaches to life. Which approach do you prefer? Explain why.

Please send any answers to alica@learnandspeak.net or write them in the comments below for feedback.